Sanchi: Stupas, Temples and Buddhist Art

Sanchi brings Buddhist monuments, architecture and art to the forefront of travel planning. The Great Stupa is considered the main attraction; other stupas, temples, monasteries, the Ashoka Pillar and museums add to its cultural profile.

Stupas and Buddhist Monuments

The Great Stupa is considered Sanchi’s main attraction and is said to have been the first monument built there, in the 3rd century BCE. Stupas 1 and 3 are regarded as especially accomplished examples of this type of monument. Stupa No. 2 is also significant and is said to have been built in the 2nd century BCE. Sanchi’s heritage for visitors also includes other stupas, temples and monasteries.

Art and Museums

The Buddhist monuments in Sanchi document the history of Buddhism from the 3rd century BCE to the 12th century CE. They bring together a remarkable concentration of early Indian art techniques and Buddhist art. At the same time, they rank among the oldest and most mature examples of aniconic art and freestanding architecture. Their historical context, artistic design and architectural form offer different perspectives on the same group of monuments.

The Ashoka Pillar is one of Sanchi’s visitor attractions and is located near the southern gate of the Great Stupa. The Archaeological Survey of India Museum in Sanchi houses notable antiquities, including the lion capital of the Ashoka Pillar.

At Buddha Jambudweep Park, pavilions explain the Four Noble Truths: Dukh refers to suffering, Samudaya to the origin of suffering, Nirodha to its cessation and Magga to the path leading to its cessation. The museum in the park offers digital puzzle games and paintings about the origins of stupas. The pavilions and the museum focus on different things: the pavilions explain Buddhist teachings, while the museum offers digital and visual ways to learn about the origins of stupas.

Raisen as a Regional Context

In the regional context of Raisen, the balanced proportions of Stupa 1 and the richly carved design of its four gateways are considered outstanding artistic achievements.

The Chethiyagiri-Vihara Festival is celebrated in November by the people of Sanchi in Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh. During the festival, relics are brought out, and pilgrims from across the country come to pay their respects. If you want to time your trip to coincide with the festival, check the latest dates.

Another cultural and landscape reference in Raisen is Bhimbetka. The site consists of five groups of natural rock shelters in sandstone outcrops above a relatively dense forest. The paintings date from the Mesolithic period through to historical times. This regional point of interest is therefore clearly distinct from Sanchi’s Buddhist monuments. The Bhimbetka site in Raisen includes more than 700 rock shelters, about 400 of which have rock paintings.

Discover more destinations: Umaria, Udaipura.

Return to the main travel overview: Raisen.